Stake forming apparatus



Feb. 6, 1968 J. A. WATSON, JR 3,367,375

STAKE FORMING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1966 INVENY 0R James A. Watson, Jr.

ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1968 J. WATSON, JR 3,367,375 I STAKE FORMING APPARATUS Filed March 23, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

James A Watson, Jr.

ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1968 J. A. WATSON, JR 3,367,375

STAKE FORMING APPARATUS Filed March 23, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

James A. Watson, Jr.

ATTORNEY United States Patent C 3,367,375 STAKE FORMING APPARATUS James A. Watson, Jr., 3638 Chanel Hill Road, Durham, N.C. 27707 Filed Mar. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 536,879 4 Claims. (Cl. 143-57) This invention relates to mill machinery and, more particularly, to machinery for forming the sharpened ends of surveyor stakes and the like.

Surveyor stakes, which are comprised of an elongated piece of wood having a sharpened ground piercing end and an impact receiving end, are in great demand due to the current rate of building roads, structures and the like. The formation of the surveyor stakes ground piercing end has to date been done manually by an operator who moves each stake blank individually past an energized saw blade. It can be seen that if the ground piercing end of the stake is to be V-shaped, which is its usual geometric arrangement, the operator must pass the stake by the saw blade twice. It is evident that this process is very time consuming and at a maximum, the operator can only produce approximately two thousand shaped stakes per work day. Also, the operator is constantly exposed to danger since his hands pass substantially close to the saw blade during each cut. Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an automatic edge forming machine which is adapted to shape the ends of ground piercing stake blanks in quantities exceeding ten thousand stakes per work day.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic edge forming machine which does not require the operator to expose himself to the machines cutting blade.

A further object of this invention is to provide a machine which automatically and continuously passes surveyor stake blanks past a plurality of cutting edges whereby a V-shaped, ground piercing end is formed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a surveyor stake end forming machine which is adapted to handle most any length stake blank and which is adapted to provide the ground piercing end of the stake with most any desired angle of taper.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the specification, claims and appended drawings. A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial, perspective view of the invention showing the interrelationships of the various components which comprise the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view of the invention showing the driving gear mechanism which rotates the stake receiving turntable;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial, fragmentary, perspective view of the vertically and horizontally adjustable arm saw support; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of the pivoting stake clamping plate.

One embodiment of the present invention contemplates providing a stake sharpening apparatus with a turntable which is rotatably mounted on an upwardly extending and rigidly positioned support shaft. The turntable is provided with a plurality of uniform radially extending stake holders each of which is adapted to slidably receive a stake blank. The holders are adjustable in that they are adapted to receive a stake blank of most any length and to project at one end a predetermined distance outwardly beyond the edge of the turntable and the outwardly pointing ends of the holders. The turntable is also provided with a large 3,367,375 Patented Feb. 6, 1968 axially aligned gear which is rigidly secured thereto and which is driven by an electric motor or the like through a standard gear reducing mechanism. Associated with the turntable and in cooperation therewith is a stationarily positioned support frame. The frame includes at two successive sawing stations a pair of radially and horizontally extending motor support arms which individually receive a motor. Each motor is provided with a disc shaped circular saw blade which is selectively positioned in the path traveled by the outwardly projecting ends of the stake blanks so that as the stake blanks pass by the cutting blade, a selected portion of the end of the stake is severed from the remainder. Each motor is adjustably mounted on its support arm and each support arm is adjustably mounted with respect to the stationary frame so that any desired angle of cut may be achieved by selectively moving the motor and its cutting blade into that desired position. The stationary frame is also provided with a plurality of outwardly extending clamp support arms which are horizontally positioned over the turntable. Each clamp support arm supports a clamping plate which is substantially parallel to the turntable and adjustably positioned so as to engage and hold a surveyors stake blank in its respective holder as the stake blank passes through the cutting area.

This invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings in which the figures are illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

A cylindrical frame 10 which has an integrally connecting flange 11 circumscribing one end thereof is vertically positioned on a suitable surface 12, such as concrete floor, and is rigidly held in that upright position by means of screws 13 which pass through flange 11 and into surface 12. Frame 10 is generally cylindrical in shape and is provided with a slidably mounted collar 15 which may be rigidly secured to frame 10 by means of set screws 16 and 17. Collar 15 is provided with two outwardly and rigidly extending integral arms 20 and 21 which are arranged horizontally with respect to surface 12. Arms 20 and 21 are respectively provided with downwardly extending shafts 22 and 23 which are in parallel alignment with frame 10. The lower ends of shafts 22 and 23 are pivotally connected to clamping plates 28 and 29 by means of clevis joints 24 and 25 which allow clamping plates 28 and 29 to freely pivot on shafts 22 and 23. In order to maintain rigidity in the horizontal plane, clamping plates 28 and 29 are respectively provided with upwardly extending shafts 31 and 32 which are rigidly mounted thereon and which are slidably received by elongated eyelets 33 and 34, eyelets 33 and 34 being respectively mounted on arms 20 and 21. It is desirable to provide the forward edges of clamping plates 28 and 29 with an upwardly sloping surface as shown in FIGURE 1 so that the stake blanks which pass thereunder will not have the tendency to abut against that leading edge. Plates 28, 29 should be made heavy or weighted.

To provide support for the cutting apparatus, frame 10 is provided with integrally mounted and horizontally disposed support plates 40 and 41 which respectively receive vertically extending shafts 42 and 43 on their upper surfaces. Vertical shafts 42 and 43 respectively receive T-shaped pipe members 44 and 45 by means of tubular crossbar portions 46 and 47. Vertical alignment of T- shaped members 44 and 45 may be obtained by slidably adjusting the crossbar 46 and 47, respectively, on shafts 42 and 43 and securing the same in place thereon by set screws 48. T-shaped pipe members 44 and 45 also include tubular stems 50 and 51 which are adapted to telescopingly receive the elongated arms 66 and 67 of L-shaped members 53 and 54, respectively. The elongated arms 66 and 67 of L-shaped members 53 and 54 once adjusted in stems 50 and 51 are securely held therein by 3 means of set screws 55. The short arms 68 and 69 of L- shaped members 53 and 54 slidably receive shafts 56 and 57, respectively (shown in FIGURES 2 and 4), and are adapted to secure shafts 56 and 57 therein by tightening their respective set screws 49. The exposed ends of shafts 56 and 57 rigidly receive perpendicularly mounted plates 58 and 59, respectively, which in turn securely receive electric motors 60 and 61. Electric motors 60 and 61 power disc saw blades 62 and 63, respectively, by means of drive shafts 64 and 65. Saw blades 62 and 63 may be adjusted into most any desired cutting plane by moving crossbars 46 and 47 vertically along shafts 42 and 43 and by pivoting the same about shafts 42 and 43, by sliding long arms 66 and 67 of L-shaped members 53 and 54 in stems 50 and 51 and by rotating connecting shafts 56 and 57 in short arms 68 and 69.

Turntable 70 includes an upright post 71 which is secured to surface 12 by means of a flange 72 and bolts 73. Post 71 is also provided with an upper integral flange 74 which is adapted to support pinion gear 75. Pinion gear 75 which is rotatably journaled on post 71 supports and is integrally locked to a table 76 by means of keys 77. To rotate table 76, a motor 80 is mounted on surface 12 and is connected to a gear reducer 81 by means of belt 82. Gear reducer 81 which is mounted on bar 83 that extends between frame 10 and post 71 rotates driving gear 84 by means of shaft85. Drive gear 84 is in meshing engagement with pinion gear 75 and upon the energization of electric motor 80, table 76 is rotated in a selected direction at a selected speed.

The upper surface of table 76 is provided with a plurality of stake blank holders 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95 which are in radial alignment with the axis of table 76 and post 71. Each stake blank holder such as holder includes two parallel and upwardly extending elongated side members 97 and 98 which securely receive a stake blank of given size and hold the same in a selected position. While not shown, it is contemplated that a selected side member may be adjustably positioned on table 76 so as to accommodate stake blanks of various widths. Side members 97 and 98 are provided with aligned and oppositely positioned holes 99 and 100, respectively, and each pair of opposed holes are adapted to adjustably position a pin 101 which adapts each stake holder to receive a stake blank and position the same for cutting so that stakes of various lengths may be shaped and cut. That is, one end of each stake blank abuts the pin 101 and the amount the opposite end of the blank projects beyond its holder is determined by the location of pin 101.

In operation, stake blank holders 90, 91, 92, 93-, 94 and are respectively provided with stake blanks 110, 111, 112, 113, 114 and 115. One end of each stake blank will be shaped in the form of a V by cutting along one plane and alternatively cutting along a second converging plane; therefore, in order to provide each stake blank with a V having the proper angle between its converging surface edges, saw blades 62 and 63 must be tilted at the proper angle in the blanks path of travel. This positioning is achieved by moving crossbars 46 and 47 vertically along shafts 42 and 43 and horizontally by pivoting the same about shafts 42 and 43 and substantially simultaneously therewith moving long arms 66 and 67 in stems 50 and 51 until blades 62 and 63 are properly positioned in the path of travel of the ends of the respective blanks. The angle of pitch or the angle between the converging edges of the stake blank is controlled by rotating long arms 66 and 67 about its axis instems 50 and 51. Lastly, the lead of the respective saw blades is adjusted by rotating shafts 56 and 57 in the short arms 68 and 69 of L- shaped members 53 and 54, respectively. The proper lead is important for the blades must be tilted so that the rear portions thereof clear the stake after the same has passed by the forward cutting edge. The structure of the invention lends itself particularly well to this requirement.

After the saw blades 62 and 63 have been properly positioned in the path of the stake blanks, table 76 is energized in'a clockwise direction by motor 80 through the linkages as previously described. In reference to the static situation as shown by FIGURE 1, stake is inserted into holder 90 so that it firmly rests against pin 101. Stake 111 has advanced into the area beneath plate 28 and is firmly held in holder 91 thereby as it advances beneath the same towards saw blade 62. Stake blank 112 which resides in holder 92 has advanced past saw blade 62 and has had a portion thereof removed by saw blade 62 thereby forming one edge of the V-sbaped ground piercing end. Stake blank 113 which resides in holder 93 and which has passed by saw 62 is in a position to slide under plate 29 and be firmly secured in the holder 93 as stake blank 113 passes by saw 63. Blank 114 which, at the position shown, still partially resides under plate 29 thus holding it firmly in holder 94 has passed by saw 63 which forms the second edge of the V-shaped ground piercing end. Stake blank 115 which is free of plate 29 is adapted to be removed from stake holder 95 manually.

c it may also be rotated at any given speed so as to adjust to the individual working speeds of the laborer. It has been found that the particular arrangement as shown and described has the desired rotating speed of three and onehalf revolutions per minute thus adapting this apparatus to form the ground piercing ends at a rate of approximately twenty-one stakes per minute or over ten thousand per work day. The operator can conveniently both remove the finished stakes as well as load the blanks at the station between the two sawing stations and actual experience shows that this can be accomplished at the rate indicated. Furthermore, set up time for changing the length of stake is reduced to a minimum.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for automatically making two successive converging cuts on one end of each of a plurality of uniform size stake blanks so as to provide points therefor, comprising:

(a) a plurality of uniform work holders residing on a common horizontal plane and extending radially from and rotatable around a common vertical axis, each said work holder having an open top and including a pair of opposed side members, a bottom member and, an end member, each said holder being adapted to support one of said blanks between said sides such that one end thereof abuts said end member and the other end projects some predetermined distance outwardly beyond the outer ends of said side members;

(-b) means mounting said work holders including means for continuously rotating said holders past first and second successive spaced peripheral sawing stations and a third loading-unloading station located intermediate said first and second stations;

(c) first and second circular disc saws respectively angularly mounted at said first and second stations including motors therefor and arranged to cut the said projecting end of each successive blank passing thereby in two successive cuts along selected planes which converge and provide a point for the said projecting end of each said blank; and

5 ((1) hold down means located at each of said first and second stations for slidably engaging and pressing each said blank against the respective bottom member of its holder as the same passes each said respective station.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a vertical tubular base member, a pair of adjusting arms mounted on and extending outwardly from said base member and mounting on the respective outward ends thereof a respective one of said motors, said adjusting arms each including a T-shaped tubular member having a vertical crossbar portion adjustably mounted to slide vertically and parallel to the axis of said base member and a horizontal stem portion, an L-shaped tubular member on each said arm having a long leg and a short leg, said long leg being adjustably mounted to slide on and around the axis of said stern portion, and on each said short leg a tubular shaft rigidly mounting the respective said motor, said shaft being adjustably mounted to slide on and around the axis of said short leg.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said each said pair of opposed slide members include opposed and axially aligned pairs of spaced apart holes and a pin for each pair of opposed side members, said pin being adapted to reside in any selected pair of holes and to have a stake blank abut thereagainst thereby making said end member adjustable to accommodate to blanks of varying length.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said hold down means comprise a pair of substantially flat plates residing in a horizontal plane above and substantially paral lel with the plane of said holders and having bottom surfaces adapted to slidably engage and hold said blanks immediately behind the projecting ends thereof and arm means mounting said hold down means on said base member and being adapted to adjustable, vertical and radial positioning thereof thereby allowing both the working angle and pressure asserted by said hold down means with respect to said blanks to be adjusted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1889 Atwater 1436 4/1941 Steach 209-318 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY MAKING TWO SUCCESSIVE CONVERGING CUTS ON ONE END OF EACH OF A PLURALITY OF UNIFORM SIZE STAKE BLANKS SO AS TO PROVIDE POINTS THEREFOR, COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF UNIFORM WORK HOLDERS RESIDING ON A COMMON HORIZONTAL PLANE AND EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM AND ROTATABLE AROUND A COMMON VERTICAL AXIS, EACH SAID WORK HOLDER HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDE MEMBERS, A BOTTOM MEMBER AND AN END MEMBER, EACH SAID HOLDER BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT ONE OF SAID BLANKS BETWEEN SAID SIDES SUCH THAT ONE END THEREOF ABUTS SAID END MEMBER AND THE OTHER END PROJECTS SOME PREDETERMINED DISTANCE OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS; (B) MEANS MOUNTING SAID WORK HOLDERS INCLUDING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY ROTATING SAID HOLDERS PAST FIRST AND SECOND SUCCESSIVE SPACED PERIPHERAL SAWING STATIONS AND A THIRD LOADING-UNLOADING STATION LOCATED INTERMEDIATE SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS; (C) FIRST AND SECOND CIRCULAR DISC SAWS RESPECTIVELY ANGULARLY MOUNTED AT SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS INCLUDING MOTORS THEREFOR AND ARRANGED TO CUT THE SAID PROJECTING END OF EACH SUCCESSIVE BLANK PASSING THEREBY INTO TWO SUCCESSIVE CUTS ALONG SELECTED PLANES WHICH CONVERGE AND PROVIDE A POINT FOR THE SAID PROJECTING END OF EACH SAID BLANK; AND (D) HOLD DOWN MEANS LOCATED AT EACH OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND STATIONS FOR SLIDABLY ENGAGING AND PRESSING EACH SAID BLANK AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE BOTTOM MEMBER OF ITS HOLDER AS THE SAME PASSES EACH SAID RESPECTIVE STATION. 